Football/Real Madrid gives Kylian Mbappé a cold rebuke
Kylian Mbappé, who was signed by Real Madrid this summer, is under immense pressure, with high expectations placed on him at the Spanish club. While his personal statistics are respectable — 8 goals and 2 assists in 14 matches across all competitions — the Frenchman has yet to take his game to the next level, largely due to his adjustment to the Real Madrid system. At 25 years old, Mbappé has still not won a Champions League title or the Ballon d’Or, and he is struggling to assert himself as a key figure in a team that is used to winning everything.
In an interview, Karim Benzema, who knows Mbappé well, suggested that the problem could be related to his positioning on the field. According to Benzema, Mbappé is not naturally a central striker, and this is evident when he plays as a No. 9, as he does with the French national team, where his performances are less convincing. Benzema believes that Mbappé’s best position is as a left-winger, a role already occupied by Vinícius Júnior, another top player. This creates a dilemma for coach Carlo Ancelotti, who needs to find a balance to make both players shine.
While Mbappé is recognized for his extraordinary talent, he still needs to improve certain aspects of his game. For example, his lack of involvement in defensive work is frequently pointed out, despite high expectations in this regard. Ancelotti has already explained that he doesn’t expect Mbappé to press like a defensive player but that he should be ready to participate in quick transitions as soon as his team recovers the ball. However, internally, some of Real Madrid’s players and officials have expressed concerns about his lack of effort in this area, and these criticisms were amplified following his disappointing performance in the recent Clasico, where he was caught offside several times and did not show enough defensive commitment.
Luis Enrique, his former coach at Paris Saint-Germain, had also expressed his dissatisfaction with this aspect of Mbappé’s game, advising him to follow the example of Michael Jordan in terms of leadership and defensive work. This firm speech resurfaced recently in a documentary.
In Madrid, this issue remains prominent, and several club officials and teammates have recently called Mbappé to order, reminding him that he must become a leader on the field, not only in attack but by taking more responsibility across the pitch. The pressure is mounting on the Frenchman, who now needs to prove that he is more than just a talented player: he needs to become a leader and fully embrace his role in this star-studded team. Tonight, against AC Milan in the Champions League, Mbappé will have the opportunity to respond to expectations and prove that he can contribute more comprehensively, both offensively and defensively.
